Game apparatus



Patented May 4, 1943 GAME APPARATUS Donald Hooker, Chicago, lli., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 22, 1941, Serial N 407,848

(Cl. 20o-52) 6 Claims.

This invention pertains broadly to electrical switching devices of special application, and more specifically to a target or bumper switch for use in amusement apparatus, auch as a bagatelle or other ball rolling game.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a bumper adapted to be struck by a ball or other playing piece, which will vbe deflected or rebounded therefrom.

A further object is the provision of improve,- ments in the bumper structure by virtue of which a bumper element is disposed on a mounting post to shift in a horizontal sense relative to the post, to rock and cause operation of a circuit closing arrangement.

A further object is the provision of a bumper having circuit control means which will `be set, and maintained in set condition until reset, by action of a ball striking the bumper; said control means nevertheless being in part also operable for repeated actuation by subsequent en.-

gagements of a ball with the bumper, for con-A trolling action notwithstanding the set condition `of other portions of the control means.

VViewed from another aspect, the invention aims to provide a bumper so constructed as to dispense with the necessity of the materials and expenses involved in supplying relays and .analogous switching and operating equipment heretofore commonly used in games of the class described, and controlled by bumper switches .of the type heretofore used.

Still another aspect of the invention relates to the provision of a bumper or anlogous target device, having a movable element adapted to be struck by a ball or the like; to provide circuitclosing means actuated -by such a movable element each time the latter is struck; to provide further circuit-closing means ladapted :to be set in a given condition, as at the start of each vvgame, together with trip mechanism actuated by a ball striking the movable element to trip the aforesaid mechanism and cause the assoyelated circuit-closing .means to remain in ;a tripped condition until reset.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel ,aspects lof the invention reside in ydetails o the construction, function, and combination lof vparts of the preferred embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through the novel bumper switch structure mounted on `a fragment of a ball rolling board;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail `of the bumper wafer or disc turned over to holdin thelatter Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the wafer disc of Fig. 2:

Fig. A a circuit diagram;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the spider spring.

As shown in Fig. l, the novel bumper structure is adapted for mounting on the surface Ill of a ball-rolling game, and one form of the device includes a. standard or post or base structure II, preferably made in hollow form of a suitable plastic molding material, with thread parts I2 in the bottom portion in which attaching bolts I3 are engaged.

At a desired level above Ythe surface I0, the base portion terminates as at I4, and below this upper terminus is an integral plastic cross web I5, adjoining which are tapped bosses I6.

Disposed freely above the upper terminus Vof the base 01' post is a movable bumper element Il in the form of a .disc or wafer of plastic shown in detail in Fig. 2 and including a central portion lla, there shown, surrounded by a grooved Aor channeled rim I8 in which is seated a resilisnt l'bumper element in the nature of a small rubber tyre I9 stretched thereabout.

In the central portion Il (Fig. 3) there are arranged three fairlylarge clearance holes 20, through which pass attaching screws for mountinc a. top portion or dome on the base portion.

Referring again to 1 the main bumper ,structure is completed by a hollow dome structure A2l provided at the top with .a removable cap v26. AInteriorly of `the dome is an integral cross web constituting a floor 2l upon which mounted a lamp socket 28 by means of rivets 29. Two lvbosses 30 and screws 3| pass from the floor ,of the .dome vthrough the oversize clearance .holes 120 in the bumper dise to .engage with .the bosses i6 and hold the kdome in Sufficient clearance is provided between the dome and base to permit the bumper element or fdisc i] to in Va horizontal direction or to ,rock ,from ,a horizontal plane. Such shifting and rocking Vmovement is limited by engagement 0f the rim portions Iat 18a with the adjoining parts o f the bodyof the base and dome.

The .bumper disc is normally centered by resilient means in the preferred form of a k.spring spider 34, such as is vshown in detail in Fig. V5. The centra-1 ,apart as of this spider lis riveted as at .I6 on the web I5 at thetop of the base portion, and has springy fingers 31 projecting upwardly `with shouldered tabs 38 at their upper,enlLislJiiSS` ring supportably through the bumper disc and imeans inthe form of Ato the underside of Aadjacent the bumper. 'switch is a trip-action mechanism including an operating lever 51 and'normally urged to pivot in a clockwise direc. jtion, by' action of a spring 59 secured at one end 'to a projection 'to rock the lever 51 so as to cause the projection Vfull line position,

The yieldability of the spring fingers is such that the bumper disc may be shifted or translated in a horizontal sense between the limits afforded by the clearance between the disc and standard portions.

Circuit control means is associated with the wafer disc to be actuated thereby upon translating or shifting movement of the latter when struck by a ball. There is a dual aspect to this circuit controlling action, and the means for effecting one phase of such action includes the provision of a vertical conductor stem 45 of metal g rockably seated and centered within the bumperl by means of vertically spaced brass collars 4l forced onto the rod, one on each side of the cen. tral portion 35 of the spider with the stem passnism including a catch 6l in the form of an elongated strip of springy metal anchored at one end 52 to the underside of surface l0, and oifset at an opposite end 53 so as to underlie the lower end of the contact rod 45. Riveted to the trip offset 63 is a rod-engaging stud 64, preferably of slightly larger diameter than the rod 40 and providing a stump which bears against the lower end of the contact rod 40 to prevent upward movement of the catch or trip arm Bl.

Intermediate the ends of the catch member is an offset catch portion 55 disposed to engage in a notch 65 formed adjacent the projection 60 on the switch-operating lever, and into which notch ing through a central, oversize hole 35a'in the. Y'

latter. Thus, the upper collar 4| normally rests on the spider with the stem pendantly hung'y therefrom. Y

' An upper end portion 42 of the contactstem projects into an oversize hole 43 in the center of the wafer disc, and the arrangement is such that when the wafer shifts horizontally, as 'when struck by a ball, the marginal portions of the "central hole 43 bear against the upper end 42 of thelrod and rock the latter, with the uppermost Vbrass collar 4| serving as a fulcrum.

l Electrical connection to the rod or stem is effected by means of a flexible pig-tail'connection i5 soldered or otherwise affixed thereto just below the lowermost collar 4l; and a companion stationary contact means for the stem includes an voffset metal arm or strip 46 having one end secured as at 41 tothe underside of the surface l0, adjacent a hole lila in which the stempasses downwardly. An opposite end portion of` the metal strip is loopedback to provide opposite portions 41and 48 in which are aligned holes.. A 'carbon ring 49 is forcibly held between the por- '.'tions 41 and 48 in alignment with said holes,

and is provided at its upper end with a reduced collar and shoulder portion 58 which projects through the hole in the upper opposite portion of the metal strip, whereby the carbon ring is se- 'As'will appear in conjunction with the descripd 'tion of the circuit diagram of Fig. 4 hereinafter,

electrical circuit is completed between the rod disc. Normally,

35 in centering the Another phase of the circuit-controlled as-r pect, includes additional switch and mechanical a leaf-spring or other `suitable switch 55 mounted on a bracket 55 secured the game board surface l0 Associated with this pivoted on the bracket at 58,

59a to the bracket and at its opposite end 59D 61 on the lever. Spring 58 tends 50 to bear against contact 55a on the switch and cause it to engage and close circuit with its comby action vof a trip. mechav.

the catch portion fits when the lever is rocked into full line position from tripped or dotted line position.

Ordinarily, the lever 51 tends, under urgence of. spring 59 to cam the catch or trip arm upwardly by virtue of the fact that the surface portions on the catch oifset and on the projection 61. of the leverfare rounded for cam action, thus to urge the catch portion 65 out of the notch 56 to free the lever.

However, centering action of the spring means or spider upon the rod 40 places the lower end 40a of the latter in alignment with the stud 64, which prevents upwardV movement of the catch arm 6l, thus preventing catch portion 65 from'being cammed out of the notch as aforesaid.

When a ball BB strikes the bumper disc, the contact stem is rocked so that the lower end 45a thereof shifts out of alignment with stud 64 into the dotted line portion, thus freeing the catch arm 6l for upward movement, whereupon .the turning eifort in lever 51 causes part 61 to cam the catch portion 65 Vout of notch 5B, so `that the lever may be snapped into tripped, dotted-line position to actuate switch 55. When such action has occurred, the normal or pre.- determined bias in the spring catch arm 6l causes the latter to descend into the dotted line position so that the end 46a of the contact rod will not thereafter be obstructed, and the bumper may close circuit repeatedly by engagement of Arod 40 with the carbon ring 49 each time a ball strikes the bumper. To this end the surface 68 on the catch-end of the lever is relieved so as not to interfere with the downward movement of catch part 65.

t is contemplated that a plurality of thc novel bumpers shall be usedl in various games; and means is provided which is common to all or a group of such bumpers for resetting the .trip switches for each whenever the game is -tion into set or full line'position. Any form of construction which is suitable may be utilized for the reset means orbail bar 1D, and since the same may vary in different types of games,

no detailed form is prescribed., Any other means for pivoting the trip levers may be employed.

In order to illustrate one of the numerous circuit arrangements in which the bumper may be used, there are shown merely, by way of example, in Fig. 4, connections'including the stem 40a of the ,bumper switch connected to a battery or other suitable power source B, the

carbon ring or stationary 'cotntactrdc being connected in said circuit with a score or hit indicating means including a relay R or other instrumentality to be controlled and actuated by battery B when bumper switch contacts Mia-49a are closed as by a ball strikirfr the disc lla.

Assuming that a bali sho-c strike the bumper disc I1, the latter would be displaced `momentarily to rock the contact stem 4ta into circuit closing engagement with its companion contact 49a to cause momentary actuation or energization of the relay R, which in turn closes its switch RS to energize some device such as the indicating lamp L, from a suitable power source B1. Each time the bumper is struck lamp L will beA illuminated. Relay R being used to insure good prolonged contact so that lamp L may assume full brilliance, since the contact established between the stem 48 and carbon ring 49 is only momentary. The ball B will be rebounded by the combined resiliency of the tyre I9 and restorative effort of the spider.

Meanwhile it is to be assumed that the trip switch has been set, as heretofore described, in which case, the movement of the contact stem, just alluded to, would displace the lower or blocking end 40a of the stem from holding position relative to the stud portion 54a, thus releasing the catch arm Gla for upward movement so that the operating lever 57a may be snapped over by its spring described.

Contact 55a of the trip switch is connected to a suitable power source, such as battery B2, while the companion trip contact 55h is connected to an indicating lamp LL or other. score device or instrumentality to be energized by battery B2 when contacts 55u-55h are closed by the tripped or released lever 51a, and lamp LL remains illuminated until the game is concluded, or the lever 51 or 57a is reset, as by the bail '10.

One of the advantageous features of the novel apparatus is the fact that the necessity of a relay (like the relay R for example) to maintain the indicator or lamp LL in operated condition, is avoided, along with the relative greater expense involved, as well as the additional electric power needed to hold such a relay in locked or energized condition, together with the added wiring and installation labour and expenses.

A further advantage and feature of novelty residents in the fact that even though the trip switch has been tripped, the bumper still remains active for circuit-controlling purposes owing to the continued availability of contacts 40-49 for repeated operation as often as the bumper is struck.

The mechanical action of the bumper is also advantageously improved and changed, owing to the substantially horizontal shift or displacement of the wafer disc, and the easy action and leverage resulting from the pendant mounting of the stem 40 as by collars 4|, and the Aslightly loose or impositive driving connection between the upper end 42 of the stem and the hole 43 in the bumper wafer or disc.

In consequence of the foregoing novel aspects of the invention, the game apparatus with which it is combined, operates in a new and improved manner, for it is believed to be unknown in this art, prior to this disclosure, that a ball bumper continued to be active for circuit-controlling purposes and repeated actuation, while at the same time having circuit-controlling features which remained operated after the first hit.

The specic construction shown and described to close trip switch 55 as heretofore may be changed to realize the various advantages and objects inherent in the invention without departing from the scope thereof. No limitations are to be placed upon the structural or functional aspects of invention except as may be required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a movable contact, a co-operating stationary contact, a trip switch, including trip mechanism coacting with said movable contact, and means adapted to be engaged and moved by a playing piece for moving said movable contact to effect circuit closing action thereof with said stationary contact and actuation of said trip switch.

2. A bumper switch comprising a bumper element and means for mounting the same with respect to a playing surface yieldably lfor displacement in an approximately horizontal .plane from a normal position by action of a playing piece engaging said element, a pendant member moved by said element by displacement thereof as aforesaid, and electrical circuit control means coacting mechanically and electrically with said pendant member for effecting and maintaining a closed control circuit and also a momentary control circuit.

3. In a ball game bumper, a pendant contact and a companion stationary contact therefor, bumper means adapted to be actuated by a ball for moving said pendant member to close a first circuit through said companion Contact, a trip device adapted to be set in a non-tripped condition and to be releasably maintained in set condition by said pendant member, said pendant member moving to trip said trip device upon closure of said first circuit, and switch means actuated by said trip mechanism when tripped as aforesaid, for closing a second circuit until the trip mechanism is set.

4. In a bumper switch a disc-like bumper element, a spring spider mounting said element for resilient motion from a normally centered position in a plane approximately parallel to a .playing surface for engagement and translation substantially in said plane when struck by a playing piece moving on said surface, a pendant contact arranged to be rocked from a normally centralized position by translation of the bumper element, a stationary companion contact surrounding said pendant contact to be engaged by the latter upon predetermined movement thereof by translation of the bumper element in any direction as aforesaid, a switch operatively associated with said bumper switch actuating mechanism adapted to be set for release from set condition to actuate said switch, and catch means automatically disposed to underlie an end of said pendant Contact in central position, upon setting of said switch actuating mechanism to maintain the latter in set condition, said catch means being released to effect actuating the switch upon movement of the pendant contact a predetermined amount from said centralized position by action of a playing piece engaging said bumper element for translation as aforesaid.

5. In the broadest aspect, the bumper disc I1 mounted by spider means 34 to shift in a plane, the contact stem 40 pendantly mounted by collar means 4| to be oscillated vby shifting movement of the disc, the stationary contact means 49 engaged by oscillatory motion in any direction of the stem lfor closing a rst circuit, the switch 55, the spring pivoted lever 51 for operating said switch, the catch El coacting with said lever to hold the latter in spring-tensioned, set condition, and the trigger arrangement including the means 64 underlying said stem to maintain said lever in set condition until, the stem is oscillated or displaced as by a ball shifting said bumper disc, whereby to controla second circuit.

6. In a ball bumper switch, relatively stationary means adapted to be mounted in a ball playing area, relatively moveable means supportabiy associated with said stationary means and adapted to be engaged and moved by'a ball, switch means having at least two operating positions,

means operatively associated with said relativei5 1y movable means for eecting actuation of said switch means from one of the said operating positions thereof to another responsive to predetermined movement of said relatively movable means, and a second switch means actuated by said movable means responsive to movement of the latter as aforesaid, the several switch means aforesaid being adapted for connection t0 control circuit means in an amusement apparatus or the like, and means in addition to said movable means for actuating said rst switch means to one of said two operating positions to condition said first switch means for actuation by said movable means, as aforesaid.

DONALD E. HOOKER. 

